Crio’s Question: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

The sports psychs talk about “just finding a way” but they are talking about winners. How many times can you be unlucky before you need to be re-categorised? Why is it that some teams/players, more than others, manage to grab defeat from the jaws of victory? Poor old North are this season’s noms but, no doubt, there’s an auspicious list?

Comments

  1. Greg Norman made it an artform for a while there.

  2. Mark Webber is putting his hand up.

  3. I used to follow the horses, until I realised that the horses I followed liked to follow other horses.
    Hay List (to Black Caviar). Dhaulagiri (to Tulloch). Sham (to Secretariat).

  4. Peter Flynn says

    Prince Darius 2nd to Tulloch on a few occasions.

    Merlene Ottey.

  5. cowshedend says

    Hyperno in M/V cup when Higgens sat up.

    Dogs in 1997 prelim.

  6. The Washington Generals had a bit of bad luck against the Harlem Globetrotters over several decades.

    Daniel Kowalski chased Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett home a few times.

    Merv Lincoln was a great mile runner in the ’50’s. Unfortunately for him John Landy and Herb Elliott were just that much better. A bloke named Bannister was handy too.

  7. Ripsnorter says

    I think Jimmy White in the snooker fits the bill here – six time finalist in the World Championship Final and six time runner up.

  8. Rick Kane says

    On more than one occassion, in recent years, sadly, the Hawks have climbed fully into the mouth of victory, way past the jaws to wrap defeat up in a comfy blanky and steal it as if it was their birthright, when up against the Cats.

  9. There is proof that God exists.
    Collingwood have lost 26 grand finals and only won 15. 2 draws and 50% on the replays.
    Unbelievably they have lost more to Melbourne than any other team, anyone old enough to remember Melbourne as a good team?
    Re North: What was the coach doing? Beaten by so many small margins this year and didn’t bother flooding the backline when 4 goals up in the last 10 minutes to scratch out a win.
    Other notable choke was Jean Van der Velde in the British open, there has probably been bigger chokes in golf but I can’t remember one. I think he need a double bogey or better to win and didn’t get to the play off.

  10. At the risk of sounding cruel, perhaps there are 6 blokes who choked under the weight of bonding sessions gone wrong in London that can relate.

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